HSP and my job from hell

by Kristie
(Sydney, Australia)

I wish I had known about HSP 4 years ago, and then maybe I mightn't have thought I was going out of my mind! I worked in a strata management company as a basic mail girl-cum-crap kicker and the atmosphere was incredibly stressful with a very high turnover of staff... someone seemed to be leaving at least once a week. I honestly don't know how I stuck it out for 2 and a half years!!

Like the previous author in this section, I too had a boss who didn't understand me; we had a strained relationship right from the word go because she was so outgoing and loud while I was quiet and found it hard to stand up for myself... and because I didn't know how to say "No," I was lumped with more and more responsibilities as time went on -- and of course I got into trouble for not being able to do everything on time which upset me even more!

The thing that really peed me off was that people were constantly telling me to toughen up. I kept taking things people said the wrong way. I used to be scared if the directors of the company even so much as looked my way when I may not have given them any reason to say anything. One of the directors used to drive me to the post office if there were packages to be picked up that were too heavy for me to carry -- I hated going with him in his car. I pick up vibes very quickly as all HSPs seem to -- and this man had very uncomfortable, chilly vibes.

Working in this job affected my health greatly. I lost weight. I became suicidal. I started getting irregular periods. Basically everything in my body became affected in some way or another. When I finally resigned, it was my sister and brother-in-law who did it for me as I was too unwell.

One of the directors coldly told me once that I "need to sort out my emotional life." That really hurt.

As it happened, shortly after resigning from that place, I finally sought some help. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, which I was treated for. I made the mistake of going back to work too soon and landed a job that was also stressful, and I was let go from that one.

4 years later, I'm so happy. With tbe meds for my depression and anxiety combined with overindulging, I have actually put on TOO MUCH weight and am slowly but surely dropping the extra kilos. I am in a job that I love. I'm a receptionist -- which means that I have "come out of my shell." But it doesn't mean I have stopped being HSP, nor do I really want to. I love being able to pick up things that no one else can. I love my job, my workplace, and my bosses!

The point of telling my story is that if you know that you're highly sensitive, it's best to choose your employment carefully. I actually knocked back a job offer during an interview one day due to the high-stress vibes I could feel in the office, and I'm glad I did because I later found out that the candidate chosen (through a recruitment agency) actually left -- she just couldn't do everything she was asked to do.

There's a place for us HSPs in the workforce -- and if you haven't found yours yet, don't stress -- it'll happen!